Blood-Borne Infections: A Case Study

In the United States, 5 million patients are transfused every year, receiving approximately 14.6 million units of blood.1 Orthopedic and cardiac surgeries are associated with high blood volume loss and account for 10% and 20% of all erythrocyte transfusions, respectively.2,3 Additionally, cancer patients undergoing malignant tumor resection often require transfusions due to chronic blood loss.4 Although improved detection methods have significantly reduced the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections, transfusions continue to result in considerable morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing surgery.2 Transfusion complications range from simple allergic reactions to ABO incompatibilities resulting in death.5 Blood administration is associated with increased postoperative infection rate, causing longer hospital stays and time to recovery.6 Allogenic transfusions may induce immunosuppression, thus making patients more susceptible to surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia.2 In addition, septicemia due to bacterial contamination of red blood cell units results in death in over 60% of affected patients.5 Transfused patients are also at an increased risk of developing infections …show more content…
Other transfusion complications include transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) which cause significant pulmonary complications.2 TRALI occurs in 1 in every 1,000 transfusions, with a mortality rate of 5% to 15%.5 Clinical symptoms such as tachycardia, hypotension, and respiratory distress are evident within six hours of blood administration, and up to 90% of patients need mechanical ventilation.2 TACO results in pulmonary edema, hypoxemia, and congestive heart failure, causing mortality in 2% to 15% of patients.2 Overall, these pulmonary complications are associated with respiratory failure, longer intubation times, and increased frequency of postoperative reintubation in patients undergoing